U.S. patent application number 11/569984 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-19 for cooling system for body armour.
Invention is credited to Eyal Bar-Erez, Yoav Kapah, Alon Raviv, Yuval Spector.
Application Number | 20080141428 11/569984 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35463390 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080141428 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kapah; Yoav ; et
al. |
June 19, 2008 |
Cooling System for Body Armour
Abstract
A system for providing streaming air to evaporate perspiration
from a wearer of personal armour. The system incorporates a set of
voluminous layers for wearing beneath the armour, one of which is
enveloped voluminous layer. The envelope is perforated in the
direction of said wearer, such that an air blower forces air into
the perforation and thence onto the body of the wearer.
Inventors: |
Kapah; Yoav; (Moshav
Nahalal, IL) ; Raviv; Alon; (Rosh Haain, IL) ;
Bar-Erez; Eyal; (Kfar Sirkin, IL) ; Spector;
Yuval; (Kfar Monash, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YORAM TSIVION
P.O. BOX 1307
PARDES HANNA
37111
omitted
|
Family ID: |
35463390 |
Appl. No.: |
11/569984 |
Filed: |
June 2, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
June 2, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IL05/00584 |
371 Date: |
December 4, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/2.5 ;
34/569 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 13/0025 20130101;
F41H 1/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/2.5 ;
34/569 |
International
Class: |
F41H 1/02 20060101
F41H001/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 3, 2004 |
IL |
162337 |
Claims
1. A system for providing streaming air to evaporate perspiration
from a wearer of a personal armour, wherein a set of voluminous
layers is worn beneath said armour, said set comprising: at least
one enveloped voluminous layer, and wherein the shell enveloping
said layer is perforated in the direction of said wearer, and an
air blower for forcing air into said outer enveloped layer.
2. A system for providing streaming air to evaporate perspiration
from a wearer as in claim 1 further comprising a body contact layer
between said enveloped layer and said wearer.
3. A system for providing streaming air to evaporate perspiration
from a wearer as in claim 1 further comprising an air hose to
connect said air blower with said enveloped layer.
4. A method for cooling the skin of a wearer of personal armour
wherein air is forced from an air blower to an enveloped voluminous
layer disposed beneath said personal armour, and wherein said air
is forced out of said layer in the direction of the body of said
wearer, providing a flow of air over said skin of said wearer.
5. A method for cooling the skin of a wearer of personal armour as
in claim 4, and wherein said air forced out of said enveloped
layers enters a voluminous body contact layer before being applied
to said wearer.
6. A system for providing streaming air to evaporate perspiration
from a wearer as in claim 1 wherein said at least one enveloped
voluminous layer contains volume providing elements.
7. A system for providing streaming air to evaporate perspiration
from a wearer as in claim 6 wherein said volume providing elements
are any selected from a group consisting of foam, fibers, three
dimensional net and mechanical spacers.
8. A system for providing streaming air to evaporate perspiration
from a wearer as in claim 2 wherein said body contact layer
contains volume providing elements.
9. A system for providing streaming air to evaporate perspiration
from a wearer as in claim 8 wherein said volume providing elements
are any selected from a group consisting of foam, fibers, three
dimensional net and mechanical spacers.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is in the field of personal armour
worn by individuals as protection against projectiles, bullets and
the like. More specifically the present invention deals with
measures for cooling the body of the wearer covered by such
protective armour.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Excessive heat produced by the human body is dissipated by
perspiration. The evaporation of the perspiration takes up heat
from the body, thus producing a cooling effect. Personal armour
typically blocks the flow of air around the body such that in hot
conditions perspiration cannot be utilized efficiently to cool the
body. The wearing of personal armour promotes the build-up of
excessive heat at and around the surface area of the wearer. This
observation is evident but stressed if the wearer is engaged in
physical activity such as walking, running or working. Under hot
environmental conditions the build-up of heat may be quick and
permanent. The excessive build-up of heat at the body surface
causes inconvenience to the wearer of the armour and in extreme
cases of build up of heat, the physiological make up of the body
can be damaged. It is therefore highly advantageous for wearers of
personal armour to be able to relieve themselves of heat stress, to
enhance their physiological functioning and protect against damage
in extreme cases of build-up of heat.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] FIG. 1 is a cross sectional isometric view of a set of
layers of the invention lying beneath the armour layer;
[0004] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional isometric view of a layer set of
the invention;
[0005] FIG. 3 is a schematic isometric view of the enveloped layer
of the invention indicating air flow through the system;
[0006] FIG. 4 is a schematic armoured outfit showing the a
folded-up corner displaying the layered structure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0007] In accordance with the present invention, a set of
voluminous layers is disposed between the wearer of personal armour
and his/her garments or body. The set is described schematically
with reference to FIG. 1. Layer 20 represents the armour layer
which is drawn for the sake of simplicity as a unitary layer but in
reality may possess a compound structure. Layer 22 is the outermost
layer of the set of the invention and layer 24 is the body contact
layer, which juxtaposes the wearer's own garments or exposed body.
Of the set of voluminous layers, layer 22 is enveloped by an
impervious shell as is described schematically with reference to
FIG. 2 to which reference is now made. In a cross sectional view,
layer 22 juxtaposes body contact layer 24. Shell 26 envelopes layer
22, however not as shown, the shell completely wraps the layer. In
more particular reference to the issue of relationships between the
personal dress of the wearer and the body armour, there is no
significance as to which is worn beneath.
[0008] In FIG. 3 to which reference is now made, the enveloped
layer is described schematically, such that its function can be
easily explained. Layer 22 is shown with its side juxtaposing the
body contact layer on top. An air blower or pump 34 takes up
ambient air through air intake 36. A hose 38 connects the air pump
34 with the enveloped layer 22. Air is driven through hose 38 to be
forced into enveloped layer 22. The air 40 taken by the air blower
is pushed through hose 38 into enveloped layer 22 and out through
perforations such as perforation 42. In some embodiment an air hose
is not used, and the air blower is connected directly to the
enveloped layer. Air is forced out through the perforations as
indicated symbolically by arrow such as arrow 44. The air driven
out of the perforations enters the body contact layer (not shown)
which is a voluminous layer, allowing further spread of the air
stream to bathe the body and collect perspiration. In some
embodiments a body contact layer is not applied. In a typical
embodiment of the invention, the air pump or blower is powered by
one or a plurality of batteries. The batteries are either packed
together with the air pump or placed in a different location, with
an appropriate cable connecting between the batteries and the air
pump. Conveniently, the batteries are rechargeable so as to allow
long hours of use with occasional charge. The technical properties
of the air blower must be such that the stream of air is strong
enough to allow sufficient flow in and around the area of the
wearer's body covered by the layers of the invention. To keep both
the body contact layer and the outermost layer, volume providing
elements are used to keep the layers from collapsing and forming
kinks and cramps. Such elements may be foam elements, fibers, three
dimensional net, mechanical spacers or any other volume forming
element.
[0009] A personal armour outfit implementing the system of the
invention is descried schematically in FIG. 4 to which reference is
now made. Outfit 50 is shown with a bottom corner folded up such
that the layers are exposed. The external, armour layer 54 is at
the top, external to the other layers. Beneath, layer 56 is the
layer in which the air is forced initially, expelled from the air
pump. Innermost is layer 58. In this drawing the air pump and hose
are not shown
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